Salvager (Seaside)

Here's a comprehensive strategy guide for Salvager:

Salvager Strategy Guide

Introduction Salvager is a $4-cost Action card from Seaside that serves as both a trasher and an economy card. Its dual nature makes it quite flexible, but understanding when and how to use it effectively requires careful consideration. This guide will explore the various aspects of Salvager and how to maximize its potential in your Dominion games.

Basic Mechanics Salvager provides two effects: 1. +1 Buy 2. The ability to trash a card from your hand and gain money equal to its cost

The key feature that distinguishes Salvager from other trashers is that it converts the trashed card's cost directly into money for the current turn. This makes it both a deck-improving tool and an economic engine.

Key Strengths 1. Deck Improvement - Removes unwanted cards while providing immediate economic benefit - Can help thin your deck quickly in the early game - Provides flexibility in what to trash based on current needs

1. Economic Boost
2. Can generate significant money when trashing expensive cards
3. Extra Buy allows you to capitalize on big money turns

4. Helps reach important price points for key purchases

5. Versatility

6. Functions as both trasher and economy
7. Useful throughout all game phases
8. Can adapt to different roles based on game state

When to Buy Salvager

Early Game (Turns 1-5) Salvager is an excellent early-game purchase for several reasons: - Helps remove starting Estates while providing economy - Can trash early Coppers when better treasure is acquired - $4 cost makes it accessible in most opening hands

Optimal timing often depends on the kingdom cards available: - With strong $5 cards, may want to skip early Salvager - With terminal draw, getting Salvager early helps thin quickly - Consider opening Salvager/Silver in many kingdoms

Mid Game (Turns 6-12) Mid-game Salvager acquisition can be valuable when: - You need targeted trashing for specific cards - Your deck has acquired expensive cards to leverage - You want to transition from engine-building to money generation

Late Game (Turns 13+) Late-game Salvager purchases are usually less optimal unless: - You need the +Buy for end-game Province buying - You have specific expensive cards you want to convert to money - You're looking to trash Provinces in a desperate ending

Using Salvager Effectively

Early Game Strategy 1. Estate Trashing - Prioritize trashing Estates early - Each Estate trash provides $2, enough for a useful Silver - Removing Estates improves deck consistency

1. Copper Management
2. Be selective about trashing Coppers
3. Consider keeping some for early economy

4. Better to trash Coppers after acquiring better treasure

5. Opening Considerations

6. Salvager/Silver is a solid general-purpose opening
7. Salvager/Terminal Draw can accelerate deck improvement
8. Consider kingdom card synergies when deciding

Mid Game Strategy 1. Maximizing Value - Look for opportunities to trash expensive cards - Consider trashing Gold for $6 to reach Province - Use with cards that give +Cards to find optimal trash targets

1. Engine Building
2. Can help streamline engines by removing unnecessary components
3. Provides economy boost while maintaining deck quality

4. Consider trashing supporting cards once engine is established

5. Timing Considerations

6. Don't trash key engine pieces too early
7. Balance trashing versus keeping economy
8. Plan turns ahead to maximize Salvager's impact

Late Game Strategy 1. Province Considerations - Can trash Provinces for $8 in desperate situations - Usually better to keep Provinces unless ending is tight - Consider trashing Duchies for $5 to reach Province

1. End Game Timing
2. Watch pile sizes when deciding what to trash
3. Consider opponent's position when making trashing decisions
4. May want to keep Salvager for +Buy in three-pile endings

Synergies and Combinations

Strong Synergies

1. Card Draw
2. Laboratory, Smithy, Council Room
3. Helps find good trash targets

4. Increases flexibility of Salvager turns

5. Villages

6. Allow multiple Salvagers per turn
7. Can create big money turns with multiple trashes

8. Help manage terminal collision

9. Gainers

10. Workshop, Ironworks, Horn of Plenty
11. Can gain cards specifically to trash

12. Creates efficient conversion of lower-cost gains to money

13. Cost-Increasing Effects

14. Bridge, Highway, Innovation
15. Make trash targets worth more money

16. Can create powerful economic combinations

17. Duration Cards

18. Fishing Village, Wharf
19. Provide actions for Salvager on following turn
20. Help manage terminal nature of Salvager

Specific Card Combinations

1. Bridge
2. Increases value of all trashed cards
3. Can create massive money turns

4. Excellent for reaching Province cost

5. King's Court/Throne Room

6. Multiple trashes in one turn
7. Significant money generation possible

8. Requires careful hand management

9. Grand Market

10. Salvager can help remove Coppers
11. Synergistic price points

12. Both provide +Buy

13. Gardens

14. Salvager helps control deck size
15. Can trash Gardens late for $4
16. Careful balance needed

Counter Strategies

When Facing Salvager 1. Rush Strategies - Pressure Salvager player before they can thin - Focus on Victory cards while they're trashing - Consider alternate victory conditions

1. Pile Control
2. Watch for three-pile endings
3. Consider depleting key piles before engine setup

4. May need to adapt buying strategy

5. Attack Cards

6. Discard attacks reduce Salvager effectiveness
7. Cursing attacks can overwhelm trashing capacity
8. Consider Militia, Witch, or Ghost Ship

When Not to Buy Salvager

Skip Salvager when: 1. Better trashers available - Chapel offers superior trashing - Steward provides more flexibility - Ambassador might be better in certain kingdoms

1. Terminal Action space limited
2. Heavy competition for action slots
3. Lack of villages or non-terminal draw

4. Better terminals available

5. Alternative economy sources

6. Strong treasure-generating engines
7. Better money-producing actions
8. Market Square or other superior options

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Over-trashing
2. Removing too much economy too quickly
3. Trashing key engine pieces prematurely

4. Not maintaining necessary deck components

5. Poor Timing

6. Using Salvager too early in turn sequence
7. Not considering future turns' needs

8. Missing better trashing opportunities

9. Inflexible Strategy

10. Focusing too much on trashing
11. Not adapting to opponent's strategy
12. Ignoring alternative victory conditions

Sample Game Plans

Basic Money Strategy - Open Salvager/Silver - Trash Estates early - Selectively remove Coppers - Build to Gold/Province - Use +Buy for multiple Silvers/Golds

Engine Approach - Open Salvager/Draw - Remove junk while building engine - Incorporate villages and draw - Use Salvager for economy boost - Transition to Province buying

Hybrid Strategy - Balance trashing and building - Maintain flexible approach - Use Salvager opportunistically - Adapt based on opponent - Consider alternate victory cards

Conclusion

Salvager is a versatile card that requires careful consideration and proper timing to use effectively. Its ability to both improve deck quality and provide economy makes it valuable in many kingdoms, but understanding when and how to use it is crucial. Success with Salvager comes from:

• Proper early game trashing decisions
• Strategic timing of trashes for maximum benefit
• Understanding role transitions throughout the game
• Recognizing and exploiting card synergies
• Maintaining flexibility in strategy

While not always the optimal choice, Salvager's flexibility and dual-purpose nature make it a solid addition to many strategies. Learning to use it effectively will improve your overall Dominion play and provide another tool for victory.